A journey towards tangible unity

On 18^th September afternoon, the Focolare Movement opened the General Assembly to friends with whom the movement has for many years undertaken its journey towards brotherhood of the human family.

Representatives of other Christian movements, brothers and sisters of various religious faiths and agnostics: some travelled far to participate in this afternoon’s event, such as Emily Soloff from Chicago, a member of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) who cancelled other appointments in order to attend this important event, and likewise, Fr. Heinrich Walter, President of the Schoenstatt Presidium. Also present was Jurif Pismak from Russia, a friend of the Focolare who professes non-religious beliefs.

These relationships have been built over the years and uphold the belief that: “In a assembly like ours which looks towards the future, firmly rooted to its source, such an event, such a memorable afternoon could not be missed. Together with all of you, we are ever more true to our own calling,” were the closing remarks of Jesús Moran, the newly elected Focolari Co-President.

All these friends of the Movement speak in the name of a vaster network of dialogue, “which we consider a true support for the construction of universal brotherhood,” Maria Voce affirmed. In the “Together for Europe” organisation, for example, there are more than 300 Christian movements, bound to one another by a pact of unity which “unites the spiritual and ‘politics’ and breaks down the barriers to work for peace,” declared Gérard Testard, French, and ex-President of Fondácio. Also present were the founding members who had started this journey with Chiara Lubich years ago: Thomas Römer of the YMCA of Munich and Gerhard Pross, head of a network of over 100 Evangelical Movements; Cesare Zucconi and Valeria Martano of the Sant’Egidio Community, on their return from Antwerp where the 28^th international meeting for peace in the spirit of Assisi was held, conveyed the greetings of Andrea Riccardi. Together they encouraged the Focolare Movement to continue living in a more forceful manner, this ideal of brotherhood. From the Far East came the wishes of the Buddhist monks of the Teravada tradition of Thailand, and the Japanese members of the Risho-Kosei Kai.

This “togetherness” and being protagonists of dialogue, is the vision that emerged from the testimonials of the Muslim friends, Dr. Adnane Mokrani, and Professor Shahrzad Houshmand, Iranian theologian, who shared her experience with Chiara Lubich: “I learned from her the force of universal faith which touches the hearts of all believers.” We are dealing with a “new evangelization which works not only for the formal conversion of hearts, but for the deep conversion of souls.” The theologian also launched an appeal to the Focolare Assembly which will be received by the Pope on 26^th September: to convey to Pope Francis our support in the effort to stop the tragedies being perpetrated, for “the blood of Jesus is still being spilt today.”

Another distinctive stretch of dialogue is life. This was underlined by Emily Soloff, an American Jew. “I see an assembly infused with life. For me the dialogue with Jews, Muslims, Buddhists in the Focolare has always been a dialogue of life,” which begins with the experience of each one, mutual understanding taking precedence over the theological, doctrinal and philosophical aspects.

“I have always been struck” – specified Lisa Palmieri Billig, also an American, and member of the Jewish Committee – “by your idea of being the first to go towards the others to offer love. You give empathy and a concrete remedy to the rampant hatred in today’s society.”

“Chiara Lubich had understood, from the very start, that unity is built with the others and not against the others, and that she could not leave aside the other half of the world which does not profess any religious faith,” were the words of Luciana Scalacci, an agnostic, who declared that she was “lucky to have been invited to the Assembly.”  In these weeks she took part in fact, in the various work sessions. She also encouraged all, in remembrance of Chiara, to always keep in mind the other cultures.

The various interventions were “precious pearls that enrich the heritage we have all received,” affirmed Maria Voce. A heritage we have “to safeguard together and multiply for the benefit of humanity,” she stressed – just before the election of the new directors of the Focolare Movement – since this is a journey we have to undertake together. And concluded with an image: “Chiara’s embrace which reaches out to all, and leads all towards God, an embrace made visible today, due to the presence of all of you here.”